VS.
The second match of the opening day of the 2010 FIFA World Cup featured the other teams from Group A and two former champions as Uruguay battled France 0-0 in a tough, hard-fought match.
(MEXSPORT/ETZEL ESPINOSA Photo via Newscom)

The French controlled the possession throughout the first half, Les Blues started dangerously in the seventh minute when Franck Ribery centered a pass from the left to Lyon forward Sidney Govou which Govou deflected wide past Uruguay keeper Fernando Muslera. In the 18th minute, Yoann Gourcuff almost surprised Muslera with a curling free kick from 20 meters outside the left side of the box but Muslera did well to knock the ball out.

Uruguay's best chance in the first half came in the 16th minute when star striker Diego Forlan got the ball on the left side of the box, cut inside his marker and blasted a tricky shot that was well handled by French keeper Hugo Lloris.

The second half started much the same as the first half with the difference being a better organized and tighter Uruguayan defense. France midfielder Jeremy Toulalan blasted a low, grass-cutting shot from outside the box in the 55th minute that was easily saved by Muslera.

Uruguay did manage to put some pressure on the French defense with Forlan making the noise. In the 63rd minute, the Atletico Madrid striker bent a freekick that was just missed by second-half sub Nicolas Lodeiro and controlled by Lloris. In the 72nd minute, Uruguayan midfielder Alvaro Pereira threw a ball into the box to Luis Suarez who fought off his marker and found Forlan open in the box, but Forlan's one-time blast went wide.

Nine minutes later, Lodeiro got his second yellow card and was expelled after a bad cleats-up tackle that caught French defender Bakary Sagna on the ankle. Lodeiro played only 18 minutes and left Uruguay with 10 men for the last nine minutes of the match, but France could not capitalize.

In the 89th minute with France attacking there was a scramble in the box in which second-half French sub Thierry Henry shot toward goal. The ball appeared to have deflected off the arm of Uruguay defender Mauricio Victorino but it was unintentional and Japanese official Yuichi Nishimura silenced his whistle and play continued to its scoreless end.

Group A play continues for Uruguay on the 16th when they face South Africa in Tshwane/Pretoria and France looks to get three points from Mexico on the 17th in Polokwane.

Click here to see FIFA's official match report

Uruguay vs. France - Match Wrap

VS.

The vuvuzelas were in full effect in Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg as the 2010 World Cup finally got underway. After words from FIFA President Sepp Blatter and South African President Jacob Zuma and handshakes from representatives of the South African and Mexican football associations, the ball started rolling and the opening match began.

The Mexicans came out strong the first 10 minutes as the Bafana Bafana probably experienced some nerves and El Tri took advantage. In the 2nd minute, Mexico's Paul Aguilar crossed into the box the ball was fumbled by South African keeper Itumeleng Khune and Giovani Dos Santos jumped on it and shot but South Africa captain Aaron Mokoena deflected it away safely.

The Mexicans continued to pressure the South African goal in the first half, Guille Franco missed open headers in the 14th & 39th minutes. In the 34th minute Carlos Vela chipped over the South Africa backline to a cutting Guille Franco in the box whose leaping touch was deflected away by Khune.

The first goal of the game appeared to have been scored off a corner when Dos Santos' corner kick bounced off Guille Franco's chest past Khune to an open Vela who poked the ball in at the far post. However, the goal was disallowed as Vela was called offside despite a South African defender sitting on the goal line.

South Africa settled their nerves towards the end of the first half and began to unlock the Mexican defense. In the 44th minute, Teko Modise played a nice pass to Siphiwe Tshabalala down the left side who sent a cross to striker Katlego Mphela but Mphela couldn't get his head to the ball and it sailed through the box untouched with no damage to Mexico.

In the 2nd half, the moment all of South Africa waited for came in the 54th minute off a well-played counter attack. A nice 1-2 with Steven Pienaar and Mphela at midfield freed Tshabalala as Mphela played a well-placed through ball down the left side to Tshabalala who got into the box behind the Mexican defense and fired a GOLAZO past Mexican keeper Oscar Perez in the upper corner of the goal for the 1-0 lead.(Photo © 2010 ZumaPress)

Mexico equalized in the 79th minute when a centering pass from Andres Guardado found Rafael Marquez alone in the 6 yard box. The Barcelona defender blasted the ball past Khune for the 1-1 score. A mistake by Mokoena kept Marquez and 2 other Mexican players on side putting Khune in an unenviable position.
(Photo © 2010 ZumaPress)

South Africa almost pulled out a dramatic 3 points in the 90th minute, when Khune sent a long ball up the pitch catching the Mexican backline off guard and playing Mphela behind the defense with a defender on his back, Mphela shot deflected off the near post as he tried to sneak a shot past Perez.

The final whistle blew and the match ended 1-1, South Africa is now unbeaten in 13 straight matches and South Africa keeps African teams unbeaten in World Cup opening matches. South Africa faces Uruguay next on the 16th in Tshwane/Pretoria while Mexico next takes on France on the 17th in Polokwane.

Go to FIFA's website to get the official match report.

South Africa vs. Mexico - Match Wrap

The day we've all been waiting for is finally here. The World Cup kicked off in South Africa on Friday with the inaugural game between the hosts and Mexico ended in a 1-1. That match will be followed by Uruguay vs France at the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town and it promises to be just as exciting as opening match.

Oscar Washington Tabarez already announced the starting lineup for the Celestes, who will look for just their second win a World Cup match since 1970. Uruguay will play in 3-4-1-2 formation and will lineup Muslera; Lugano, Godin, Victorino; Perez, Alvaro Periera, Arevalo Rios, Ignacio Gonzalez, Maxi Pereira, Diego Forlan, and Luis Suarez.

Uruguay has a powerful tandem at the forward position with Atletico Madrid star Diego Forlan, who won the European Golden Shoe award in 2009, and Ajax's Luis Suarez, who was the highest goal scorer in the world this past season according to the IFFHS.

France, meanwhile, heads into the World Cup with much uncertainty after looking flat in recent international exhibition matches. The 1998 world champions, however, have one of the world's best players in Frank Ribery leading their attack. Ribery will have Chelsea striker Nikolas Anelka next to him in the middle while Lyon’s Sidney Govou will be on the left. You also can’t ignore the fact that Thierry Henry is on the bench although conditioning issues have been a concern for the Barcelona striker.

Both of these sides met in the 2002 World Cup with the match ended in a scoreless draw.

France’s probable lineup: Lloris; Sagna, Gallas, Abidal, Evra (c); Gourcuff, Toulalan, Malouda; Govou, Anelka, Ribéry

URUGUAY - FRANCE PREVIEW

The list did include some surprises. One of the biggest upsets was the exclusion of “El Cebolla” Rodriguez, who was not going to be available for the first two matches of the world cup due to a two game suspension he was awarded by FIFA. Another notable absence is Santiago Silva, last top scorer o the Argentine League with Banfield.

Tavarez has confirmed that Diego Forlan, Sebastian Abreu, Luis Suarez and Diego Lugando will be in the world cup; leaving room only for 19 more players. Uruguay will present the final list on june 1st.

Goalkeepers:
Fernando Muslera (Lazio, Italy)
Juan Castillo (Deportivo Cali, Colombia)
Martín Silva (Defensor Sporting)

Defenders:
Diego Lugano (Fenerbahce, Turkey)
Diego Godín (Villarreal, Spain)
Andrés Scotti (Colo Colo, Chile)
Jorge Fucile (Porto, Portugal)
Martín Cáceres (Juventus, Italy)
Mauricio Victorino (Universidad de Chile)
Maximiliano Pereira (Benfica, Portugal)

Midfielders:
Walter Gargano (Napoli, Italia)
Egidio Arévalo Ríos (Peñarol)
Sebastián Eguren (AIK Estocolomo, Suecia)
Diego Pérez (Mónaco, Francia)
Alvaro Pereira (Porto, Portugal)
Alvaro Fernández (Universidad de Chile)
Jorge Rodríguez (River Plate, Uruguay)
Alvaro González (Nacional, Uruguay)
Ignacio González (Valencia, Spain)
Nicolás Lodeiro (Ajax, Holland)

Forwards:
Luis Suárez (Ajax, Holland)
Diego Forlán (Atlético Madrid, Spain)
Sebastián Abreu (Botafogo, Brasil)
Edinson Cavani (Palermo, Italy)
Jorge Martínez (Catania, Italy)
Sebastián Fernández (Banfield, Argentina)

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Oscar Tabárez announces Uruguay’s 26

With the 2010 FIFA World Cup just a few weeks away, its time to breakdown the 32 teams that will be participating in The Great Tournament. Next up is the European nation of France.

Official Name: Fédération Française de Football


Nickname: Les Bleus

FIFA Confederation: UEFA (Europe)

FIFA Code: FRA

How They Qualified: Def. Ireland 2-1 agg. extra time in UEFA playoff.

World Cup Appearances (Including 2010): 13

Best WC Finish: Champions, France 1998

World Cup Record (MP: Wins - Draws - Losses): 51: 25W - 10D - 16L

Head Coach: Raymond Domenech

Most Capped Player (# of caps): Lilian Thuram (142)

All-Time Goal Scoring Leader (# of goals): Thierry Henry (51)

Brief Footballing History:
The French were perpetual underachievers until their 1998 World Cup title when Les Blues lifted the trophy on home soil. Great players like Just Fontaine, Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini, and Eric Cantona couldn't get France the World Cup trophy. It was the genius of Zinedine Zidane and his 2 goals in the '98 Final against Brazil that finally took France into the realm of champions.

France is one of 2 nations to have a World Cup trophy, Confederations Cup trophy, and Olympic Gold Medal, the other is Argentina. 1998-2003 was the Golden Age of French football, having captured a World Cup, a European Championship, and 2 Confederations Cups. In the last 15 years, only Brazil has more major international tournament hardware than the French.

Player To Watch:
France is rich with talent and there are a number of well known players to keep an eye on but Yoann Gourcuff is the present and future of the French attack.


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The 23-year old playmaker played a massive part in Bordeaux breaking Lyon's 7-year hold on the Ligue 1 championship. The former AC Milan prospect has found a home with Bordeaux and has flourished in the system of his club coach, Laurent Blanc. Gourcuff has the talent to be the next in the line of great French midfield maestros.

Outlook:
France's controversial qualification for this World Cup has cast a lot of doubt about the quality of this team and more so the abilities of coach Raymond Domenech. How Domenech has managed to stay in his post is one of modern football's great mysteries.

There will be no Zidane in this tournament so Domenech will have to institute a total team effort for the French to duplicate their run to the final in 2006. France has the most talented team in the group but talent alone does not win matches.

Final 23-Man WC Roster:
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Lyon), Steve Mandanda (Marseille), Cedric Carrasso (Bordeaux)

Defenders: William Gallas (Arsenal/ENG), Eric Abidal (Barcelona/ESP), Bakary Sagna (Arsenal/ENG), Patrice Evra (Manchester United/ENG), Gael Clichy (Arsenal/ENG), Marc Planus (Bordeaux), Anthony Reveillere (Lyon), Sebastien Squillaci (Sevilla/ESP)

Midfielders: Abou Diaby (Arsenal/ENG), Alou Diarra (Bordeaux), Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux), Florent Malouda (Chelsea/ENG), Jeremy Toulalan (Lyon)

Strikers: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea/ENG), Djibril Cisse (Panathinaikos/GRE), Andre-Pierre Gignac (Toulouse), Sidney Govou (Lyon), Thierry Henry (Barcelona/ESP), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich/GER), Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille)

WC Group Schedule:
June 11 vs. Uruguay
June 17 vs. México
June 22 vs. South Africa

That concludes the Group A Teams, next up are the teams in Group B

France - WC Team Breakdown

With the 2010 FIFA World Cup just a few weeks away, its time to breakdown the 32 teams that will be participating in The Great Tournament. Next up is the CONMEBOL nation of Uruguay.


Official Name: Asociación Uruguaya de Fútbol

Nickname: La Celeste

FIFA Confederation: CONMEBOL (South America)

FIFA Code: URU

How They Qualified: Def. Costa Rica 2-1 agg. in CONCACAF/CONMEBOL playoff.

World Cup Appearances (Including 2010): 11

Best WC Finish: Champions, Uruguay 1930 & Brazil 1950

World Cup Record (MP: Wins - Draws - Losses): 40: 15W - 10D - 15L

Head Coach: Oscar Washington Tabárez

Most Capped Player (# of caps): Rodolfo Rodríguez (79)

All-Time Goal Scoring Leader (# of goals): Héctor Scarone (31)

Brief Footballing History:
In 1930, Uruguay hosted and won the 1st World Cup. No nation has done more with less than Uruguay. In 1950, Uruguay captured its 2nd World Cup in Brazil winning the trophy in the famous Maracanazo match in front of 174,000 spectators in Rio's famous Maracana stadium. El Maracanazo is still a source of national shame for Brazilian football & a source of pride for Uruguay.

The smallest nation in South America with a population less than 4 million has as many Copa América titles and Olympic gold medals as Argentina and Uruguay has more Copa América titles and Olympic gold medals than Brazil. Both Brazil and Argentina have populations at least 10 times larger than Uruguay. Despite its small size and population, La Celeste continue to produce talented footballers playing in leagues all over the world.

Player To Watch:
Although the best known Uruguayan player right now is Atlético Madrid's Pichichi, Diego Forlán. The player to watch is younger and is also making a massive impression in Europe. His name is Luis Suárez.

The Ajax striker has been a nightmare to defenses in the Dutch Eredivisie. He has scored 26 goals in 25 league matches. He scored 5 goals in qualifying, 2nd behind Forlán. Suárez has the talent to be the breakout striker of the tournament and attract a big transfer to a bigger European club.

Outlook:
Uruguay will have to be on top form to advance out of a well balanced group. Italy 1990 was the last time Uruguay advanced out of the group stage when they barely made it out as the last of the 3rd place teams. They have a tough test with the French in their opening match but 3 points from that game and La Celeste could be on their way to winning the group.


Final 23-Man WC Roster:
Goalkeepers: Fernando Muslera (Lazio), Juan-Guillermo Castillo (Cali), Martin Silva (Defensor Sporting)

Defenders: Diego Lugano (Fenerbahce), Diego Godin (Villarreal), Andres Scotti (Colo Colo), Jorge Fucile (Porto), Martin Caceres (Juventus), Mauricio Victorino (Universidad de Chile), Maximiliano Pereira (Benfica)

Midfielders: Walter Gargano (Napoli), Egidio Arevalo-Rios (Penarol), Sebastian Eguren (AIK Stockholm), Diego Perez (Monaco), Alvaro Pereira (Porto), Alvaro Fernandez (Universidad de Chile), Ignacio Gonzalez (Valencia), Nicolas Lodeiro (Ajax)

Forwards: Sebastian Fernandez (Banfield), Luis Suarez (Ajax), Diego Forlan (Atletico Madrid), Sebastian Abreu (Botafogo), Edinson Cavani (Palermo).

WC Group Schedule:
June 11 vs. France
June 16 vs. South Africa
June 22 vs. México

The next team preview of Group A sides is France

Uruguay - WC Team Breakdown

With the 2010 FIFA World Cup less than 4 months away, its time to breakdown the 32 teams that will be participating in The Great Tournament. Next up is the CONCACAF nation of México.


Official Name: Federación Mexicana de Fútbol

Nickname: El Tri

FIFA Confederation: CONCACAF (Central, North America, and Caribbean)

FIFA Code: MEX

How They Qualified: 2nd place in CONCACAF Final stage

World Cup Appearances (Including 2010): 14

Best WC Finish: México 1970 & México 1986, Quarterfinals

World Cup Record (MP: Wins - Draws - Losses): 45: 11W - 12D - 22L

Head Coach: Javier Aguirre

Most Capped Player (# of caps): Claudio Suárez (178)

All-Time Goal Scoring Leader (# of goals): Jared Borghetti (46)

Brief Footballing History:
Historically, México has been the dominant force in CONCACAF despite the recent emergence of the US Soccer. El Tri is the most decorated CONCACAF side and its domestic league is the richest in the region and probably in all of the Americas.

No CONCACAF team has been to more World Cups than México and the Mexicans participated in the 1st World Cup in 1930. El Tri is trying increase its profile outside of CONCACAF with a deep run in South Africa. In recent years, México has scratched the surface of its potential when they won the 1995 FIFA Confederations Cup and its youngsters won the U-17 FIFA World Cup in 2007.

Player To Watch:
The Mexican player to watch was a member of the winning U-17 side in 2007 and has been an important part of Coach Javier Aguirre's plans. Barca fans certainly know him. His name is Giovani Dos Santos.


The 20-year old México-born son of a Brazilian footballer is the present and future of the attacking, creativity part of the Mexican midfield. Under Sven Goran-Eriksson's reign as Mexican coach, Gio was ignored but Aguirre has found a place for him. Dos Santos' youth & athleticism provides an excellent compliment to the experience and deliberate ball handling of Mexican midfield icon Cuauhtémoc Blanco.

Outlook:
El Tri have advanced out of the group stage in the last 4 World Cups and have the talent to do it again. They are in a tough group but can look to 2002 when they won Group G and went unbeaten in a group consisting of Croatia, Ecuador, and Italy.

México's goal is the same as it has been since its last quarterfinal appearance in 1986: Advance to the semifinals. Although few people see El Tri as a serious contender to get to the semis, this tournament is unpredictable and Javier Aguirre has México playing confidently so this could be the year that México makes it.

Final 23-Man WC Roster:
Goalkeepers: Oscar Perez (Chiapas), Guillermo Ochoa (America), Luis Ernesto Michel (Guadalajara).

Defenders: Rafael Marquez (Barcelona), Ricardo Osorio (Stuttgart), Francisco Rodriguez, Carlos Salcido (both PSV Eindhoven), Hector Moreno (AZ Alkmaar), Paul Aguilar (Pachuca), Efrain Juarez (Pumas UNAM), Jonny Magallon (Guadalajara), Jorge Torres Nilo (Atlas).

Midfielders: Andres Guardado (Deportivo La Coruna), Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul), Israel Castro (Pumas UNAM), Giovani dos Santos (Galatasaray, on loan from Tottenham); Pablo Barrera (Pumas UNAM),

Forwards: Adolfo Bautista, Alberto Medina (both Guadalajara), Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Veracruz), Carlos Vela (Arsenal), Javier Hernandez (Manchester United), Guillermo Franco (West Ham).

WC Group Schedule:
June 11 vs. South Africa
June 17 vs. France
June 22 vs. Uruguay

The next team preview of Group A sides is Uruguay

Mexico- WC Team Breakdown

With the 2010 FIFA World Cup less than 4 months away, its time to breakdown the 32 teams that will be participating in The Great Tournament. First up is the host nation, South Africa.


Official Name: South African Football Association

Nickname: Bafana Bafana

FIFA Confederation: CAF (Africa)

FIFA Code: RSA

How They Qualified: Host Nation

World Cup Appearances (Incuding 2010): 3rd

Best WC Finish: Korea/Japan 2002, 1 Win - eliminated Group Stage

World Cup Record (MP: Wins - Draws - Losses): 6: 1W - 2D - 3L

Head Coach: Carlos Alberto Parreira

Most Capped Player (# of caps): Aaron Mokoena (99)

All-Time Goal Scoring Leader (# of goals): Benni McCarthy (35)

Brief Footballing History:
South Africa wass one of the founding members of the Confederation of African Football in 1956. However due to the racist & segregated political policies of apartheid, South Africa was formally expelled from the CAF in 1958 and suspended from FIFA in 1961 and expelled in 1976. With the fall of apartheid, South Africa was readmitted to the CAF & FIFA in 1991.

5 years later, Bafana Bafana won its biggest title to date, when it lifted the '96 African Cup of Nations trophy on home soil. 2 years later, the South Africans qualified for their 1st World Cup. Their first WC campaign ended with two tough draws against Denmark & Saudi Arabia and a loss to host nation and champion France in 1998.

Player To Watch:
The two most well known South African players are Benni McCarthy and Steven Pienaar both of whom play in England's Premier League. However, it is a player in South Africa's Premier Soccer League that could be the key to South Africa's fortunes in the World Cup.


Teko Modise is a left-sided attacking winger for South African PSL side, Orlando Pirates. Modise is the 2-time defending PSL Footballer of the Year and has been quietly linked with European clubs like AC & Inter Milan, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Birmingham City. The 27-year old Soweto native will have to be on top form to boost a South African attack that has been shutout in 4 of their last 5 friendly matches.

Outlook:
In any other year South Africa would be a lock to be knocked out of the group stage especially with a group consisting of Mexico, Uruguay, and France. However, the home nation advantage is a massive equalizer. Most football pundits see South Africa as the 1st host nation in tournament history to be eliminated at the group stage but it would not be a shock if they advance.

Despite their footballing reputations Mexico, Uruguay, and France are not strong as evidenced by their shaky qualifying campaigns. With a previous WC winning coach like Parreira in charge the Bafana Bafana can pull off a surprise or two.

Final 23-Man WC Roster:
Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates), Shu-Aib Walters (Maritzburg United)

Defenders: Siboniso Gaxa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Matthew Booth (Mamelodi Sundowns), Lucas Thwala (Orlando Pirates), Aaron Mokoena (Portsmouth), Bongani Khumalo (Supersport United), Siyabonga Sangweni (Golden Arrows), Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa), Anele Ngcongca (K.R.C. Genk).

Midfielders: Steven Pienaar (Everton FC), Teko Modise (Orlando Pirates), Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs), Reneilwe Letsholonyane (Kaizer Chiefs), Thanduyise Khuboni (Golden Arrows), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Fulham), Macbeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan), Surprise Moriri (Mamelodi Sundowns).

Forwards: Katlego Mphela (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bernard Parker (FC Twente), Siyabonga Nomvete (Moroka Swallows).

WC Group Schedule:
June 11 vs. Mexico (Opening Match)
June 16 vs. Uruguay
June 22 vs. France

The next team preview of Group A sides is Mexico.

South Africa - WC Team Breakdown